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Tariffs fail to save jobs at Whirlpool's Iowa plant
Whirlpool said tariff-driven trade policy did not stop it from trimming jobs at the Iowa plant as demand softened and costs rose.
Despite President Donald Trump's tariffs intended to bolster U.S. manufacturing, Whirlpool is cutting jobs at its Iowa refrigerator plant as demand softens.
Tariffs increased Whirlpool's costs for steel and imported components, complicating operations at the Iowa facility, though the company claimed trade policies supported production.
Whirlpool is retooling its Iowa plant to focus on laundry equipment while moving some refrigerator production to other facilities as part of long-term strategy.
Affected workers expressed frustration, with some employees stating they feel betrayed by job losses despite promises of manufacturing growth, and many are seeking employment elsewhere.
The job cuts impact Iowa's 1st Congressional District, one of 18 races nationwide deemed a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, as manufacturing remains a key political issue.